How old do you think the Earth is? Never mind, we’ll tell you. It’s almost 4.54 billion years old!
Let that sink in. The planet may be old but it has all the ingredients to make your jaws drop and eyes pop! How else would you describe the mighty volcanoes, drifting plates, oceanic abysses, and meteor crashes?
Even with geologists and scientists constantly being on the hunt for new discoveries, there is so much about the planet that is yet to be discovered. In this post, we will give you the smallest gems from our planet’s treasure trove.
And the Rocks Walk
Don’t believe us? Take a trip down to the Death Valley. There at the Racetrack Playa (a pancake-flat lakebed) and the rocks walk. In times when there are storms, there are instances where rocks weighing tens and hundreds of pounds can move down a distance. When there’s no storm, there’s a nice wind that gives the rocks the kick start they need.
Where’s the Longest Chain of Mountains
If you’re thinking it’s the Andes, you’re wrong. To locate the largest range of mountains on the planet, you’d have to take a swim into the ocean. The Mid-Ocean Range stretches across a distance of 65,000 km on the seabed. Compare the Andes’ 7,000 km stretch to that!
This chain of volcanic mountains maintains an average height of 18,000 feet above the sea bed. But here’s the most fascinating fact: This mountain range is not stopping! As volcanoes erupt, they create sufficient crust to add more underwater mountains to the already global mountain range.
Ever Heard of the Exploding Lakes?
They do exist! The kivu, Nyos and Monoun Lakes in Cameroon and on the Congo-Rwanda border actually explode. These deadly crater lakes are situated above volcanic Earth. The magma beneath the releases gusts of carbon dioxide into the lake water. This creates a deep layer rich in carbon dioxide right above the lake beds. This carbon dioxide at times explodes, and is fatal enough to suffocate a passerby to death.
Where Giants Breathe
No we’re not talking about the Yetis or the Bigfoot! The next things that come to mind when we think about giant life are elephants and whales. But could you think of a tree being larger than these creatures? The General Sherman is a giant sequoia that stands at 311 feet tall (A blue whale roughly grows to a 105 feet long) with the largest known stem volume on Earth. The General Sherman’s trunk measures a tad bit more than 52,500 cubic feet. That is colossal!
Did you know that there are actually spots on Earth where no precipitation has been recorded – EVER!
The center of the Atacama Desert in Peru and Chile has seen no rain whatsoever. It is known as the driest place on the planet. That’s not all. The orb we inhabit is constantly evolving, there’s always a new surprise about the Earth popping up every now and then. Take the time to imagine the extent of things we’re yet to discover about the fascinating planet we live in!